Vickery Park Branch Library. (Provided)
This Saturday, the Vickery Park branch of the Dallas Public Library will celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights.
While Diwali is traditionally lasts five days, the library is compressing the festival into one day of merriment beginning at 10:30 a.m. There will be dancing, henna, arts and crafts stations and the opportunity to try on saris, a popular style of dress from the Indian subcontinent. Vendors will sell food, and local artisans will have crafts for sale.
At 10:30 a.m., the story of Diwali will be told in English and Telugu, and at 12:30 the story will be told in English and Hindi.
Diwali symbolizes the victory of light and knowledge over darkness and ignorance. It is closely associated with Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity and fortune. One of the ways people celebrate the festival is by lighting “diyas,” which are small oil lamps.
People of all faiths are welcome to attend the celebration on Saturday. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library and the Association of Asian-American City Employees. For more information, visit the Vickery Park Branch Library’s website.
